Celebrating The Ships of The Line: The Phoenix

It really all began with the Phoenix, didn't it? And for that we can thank Dr. Zefram Chochrane. The Phoenix was built on Earth and holds the distinction of being the first manned spacecraft to travel faster than the speed of light using warp-drive technology. Cochrane, with the help of Lily Sloane, erected the craft in an abandoned Bozeman, Montanta, missile complex, putting to use a U.S. Air Force nuclear missile with a titanium casing.

The Phoenix launched on April 5, 2063, despite an attack by the Borg, thanks to the intervention of crew of the Enterprise-E, including William Riker and Geordi La Forge. The successful launch led to Earth's first contact with extraterrestrials, specifically the Vulcans.

StarTrek.com's look at the Phoenix continues our ongoing celebration of the Ships of the Line, which will carry on from now until the end of the year. The latest in the bestselling Ships of the Line calendar series is available now; visit www.Amazon.com to purchase the 2015 Ships of the Line calendar. And if you're an artist or designer, be sure to enter the Ships of the Line Design Contest, under way now, for a chance to have your art featured in the 2016 Ships of the Line calendar. Click HERE to enter.